Birth and Death and the Middle Way

Life is the companion of death,
death is the beginning of life.
Who understands their workings?
Man's life is a coming together of breath.
If it comes together, there is life;
if it scatters, there is death.
And if life and death are companions to each other,
then what is there for us to be anxious about?
— Chuang Tzu

A society that fears death such that almost everyone refuses to discuss death "out of respect for the dead" has thus paid false respect for their dead.

If such a society has no coming-of-age ritual to inculcate fearlessness in the face of death, then making death taboo is a cowardly act.

By fearing death, a person is but a coward when society treasures life so much that mass media glorifies youth to the point where the elderly are mocked by placing them in old age homes to die.

Western society thus is rendered sick in the sense that we associate death with sadness and despair to the point where the dead's living relatives are called "survivors".

In Taoism, Chuang Tzu wrote the truth about how death should be treated, as a companion of life.

Furthermore, viewing death as the beginning of life makes more sense than seeing it as the end of life.

Death is only the end of life when we ignore the afterlife.

Because society sees any depiction of the afterlife as fiction, it makes sense that death is taboo.

Such a society would rather let mass media manufacture a violent parody of life than make a film about the afterlife according to Buddhism.

Indeed, there has never been a movie about the Tibetan Buddhist afterlife, despite a book being written about Tibetans who have returned from the dead to tell about it.

Is it because the Dalai Lama forbids it? Or is it out of false piety and respect for the Tibetans that Hollywood has yet to finance such a venture?

Personally I find the Buddhist afterlife to be a place where anything can happen. I could be reborn in the hells and suffer according to the evil karma I have accumulated in this life. Eons later, I may spend time in the hungry ghost realm not taking any pleasure from eating.

Later on, I may be reborn as a worm in the animal realm, only to be eaten by a bird. Then I might be reborn as a girl in the human realm. Many eons later, I could end up in the demon realm and fight with other demons.

Much later, I may be reborn in the realm of gods and live a long life only to be reborn in one of the Buddhist heavens.

However, each rebirth still requires hearing the Dharma and turning away from evil. In this case, karmic evil would occur when I act according to the realm in which I am reborn.

In the human realm, to act like other humans requires committing evil karma. All the things humanity does to glorify humankind cannot help but create seeds of evil karma which only leads to rebirth in samsara, the realms of desire — the hells, hungry ghost, animal, human, demons and gods.

What kind of existence is this? Is it worth being reborn endlessly due to evil karma?

I do not believe so. For samsara is not humanity's destiny if we choose to live according to the Buddhadharma.

Contrary to what the brahmins of Santanadharma preach, rebirth in samsara is not a person's destiny when she chooses to become a Buddha.

In choosing to become a Buddha, even one sentient being abandons ignorance for the greater good of all sentient beings. This happened to Gotama over 2500 years ago. He became Sakyamuni Buddha in one lifetime, and discovered that he too spent previous lifetimes as a Bodhisattva, preparing for Nirvana.

Even after his mahaparinirvana, which appears to us as an earthly death, the Buddha was liberated to be whatever it is causes each Buddhist to abandon human existence in samsara to become like him.

He could be your Buddhist teacher, a guru, or even someone you hate. He might appear as your mother, your father, your brother, your sister, your family, or even that bully who beat you up in Grade Two.

Whenever whatever another person does to us, good or bad, if we are inspired to learn from it and become better than we were before, then that is due to the Buddhadharma.

For it is the Buddha's aim to liberate all sentient beings from human existence and not be reborn in Samsara.

Each liberated sentient being is destined to become a Buddha when she has heard the Buddhadharma — the Four Noble Truths, dependent arising — and, repenting her former life, jumps over to the Middle Way.

August 2005 Journal - Zen Readings: Beware of

"Human beings have three treasures:
Vitality, Essence, and Spirit.
In old age, beware of exhausting vitality;
when vitality is exhausted, you die.
In old age, beware of leaking essence;
if energy is drained, you die.
In old age, beware of
dissociation of the spirit;
if the spirit is gone, you die. " — August 2005 Journal - Zen Readings

Commentary:

This is the variant of the Three Treasures known as Qi-Jing-Shen (Vitality, Essence and Spirit).

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), exhausting Vitality, leaking Essence, and dissociation of Spirit may lead to spiritual death; if not physical death.

Qi is Vitality, which is life-force energy, and refers to movement of breathing, movement of blood through the body's arteries and veins, movement of the functioning of various organs, movement of limbs, and related movement. Qi is the anima/animus dressed in Taoist symbolism, and is like a candle's flame.

Jing is Essence, which is also known as life energy, and refers to densely-vibrating energy which closely associated with our physical bodies. The Buddhist precept about being discreet about sexuality activity is associated with caution by TCM practitioners to not engage in excessive sexual activity. Jing is like the wax and wick of the candle.

Shen is Spirit, which is also known as the True Mind, the mind that transcends the body. It represents loving-kindness, compassion, and enlightened power, for Shen symbolizes a heart filled with wisdom, forgiveness and generosity, through mindful practice, be it meditation, or helping other sentient beings. Shen is the radiance given off by the candle flame.

To summarize, Jing is the wax and wick of a candle, Qi is the candle flame and Shen is the clear light given off by the candle flame.

---

Original post: August 17, 2005 2245H
Update posted: March 11, 2013 1247H

References:


Energy is also known as essence.
References:
Heaven and Earth: http://www.dailyzen.com/zen/zen_reading0508.asp
Chinese Three Treasures: http://taoism.about.com/od/internalalchemy/a/three_treasures.htm
Three Treasures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Treasures_%28traditional_Chinese_medicine%29

The Ching of Eeyore (with apologies to AA Milne)

(Quotes from the Rosenthal translation of Tao Teh Ching and the Chris Fugate version of Hua Hu Ching)
1. Already There
(In which Eeyore is visiting Winnie the Pooh at his home, discussing the merits of being sad as Pooh finishes his first jar of hunny for the evening.)
"I'd much rather be sad," said Eeyore, "than be happy."
"Why is that?" asked Pooh, examining his pot of hunny.
"At least," sighed Eeyore, "then no one can make you sad when you're already there."
"You have a point there," said Pooh after giving up on getting more hunny out of the pot. "But I have a problem."
"What's that?" asked Eeyore.
"I think there's no more hunny in this pot of mine."
"Are you sad because of that?" asked Eeyore.
"Well, yes," said Pooh, "but..."
"But were you happy when there was hunny in the pot?" asked Eeyore.
"Yes, I guess I was," replied Pooh.
"Are you sadder now that there is no more hunny?"
"Yes, but not really sad."
"But if you were sad when you had more hunny, you wouldn't be sadder now. You'd be just as sad before as you would be after."
"I don't know, Eeyore. I enjoyed the hunny dearly." Pooh frowned, and looked into the hunny pot just in case he missed a little bit of hunny that may have hidden itself out of sight.
"Do you miss not having more hunny?"
"Yes, indeed I do."
"Well then, that's why I'd much rather be sad."
"But Eeyore!" exclaimed Pooh. "You don't like hunny at all."
"It's a good thing too!" declared Eeyore. "I'd be very, very sad if I couldn't have more hunny."
"Cheer up, Eeyore!" said Pooh, throwing away the empty jar. "I'll get another jar of hunny and share it with you."
"Don't bother," said Eeyore, "I don't like hunny anyway."
"Oh," said Pooh in a tiny voice. "Then what do you like?"
"Being sad," said Eeyore.
"Well, you're already there, then," said Pooh, and giggled.
"Yes, I am," admitted Eeyore, who pushed a new jar of hunny toward Pooh Bear.
"Thank you, Eeyore. Would you care to share some with me?"
"No, thank you. Please go right ahead."
"Don't mind if I do." Pooh ate the hunny and smiled.
"Eeyore, you are a nice friend even if you are always sad."
"Thank you, Pooh. You're nice too."
Eeyore grew thoughtful. Then he said to Pooh, "I thought of a poem, Pooh."
"Well, let's hear your poem."
Eeyore cleared his throat and recited:

        When it's daytime, I'm sad.

        When it's night time I'm sad.

        But nothing that happens makes me sad.

        I'm too busy being sad to be affected.

"That was a nice poem, Eeyore," said Pooh, who clapped his hands. Then he wished he didn't, because now both his paws were sticky with hunny. Rather than letting all that hunny go to waste, he started licking his paws.
"Thank you, Pooh. Do you have a poem for me?"
"Me?" asked Pooh. "I haven't much of a brain to tell a good pome. After all, Christopher Robin knocked all the stuffing out of my head climbing up those steps to bed."
"That's ok," said Eeyore. "I don't mind being disappointed." Then he gave Pooh a baleful look.
Now Pooh felt very bad for disappointing his friend. So he thought...

and he thought...

and he thought some more.

"Well," he said finally, "I might have a pome for you somewhere."
Eeyore frowned, and said, "It's about time. Please tell me your poem, Pooh."
"Ok," said Pooh, "It goes something like this, I think."
I am happy eating hunny
and very sad when there is none.
Never let hunny go to waste.
"That's good advice," said Eeyore. "I think I like your poem."
"Does it make you happy to like my poem?" asked Pooh.
Eeyore thought about that question.
"No" came the answer finally.
"Does it make you sad to hear my poem?" asked Pooh.
"No," said Eeyore quietly, "because I'm already there!"
"Quite right," said Pooh, deeply affected by Eeyore's answers. "Oh bother! Now you've gone and done it!"
"Done what?" asked Eeyore.
"You've made me sad!" exclaimed Pooh.
"Well," retorted Eeyore, "if you were sad already, I wouldn't have made you sad."
Pooh thought that one over for a long, long time.
"I think you're right, Eeyore!" he said.
"Good!" said Eeyore. "I'm glad you're seeing things my way."
Then Pooh laughed. Eeyore looked at him sideways.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked.
Pooh stopped laughing.
"Are you truly glad, Eeyore?" he asked?
"That's not fair," declared Eeyore. "I asked you a question first!"
"It's a part of my answer to your question," said Pooh.
"Oh," said Eeyore, who then thought for a bit about Pooh's question.
"Well?" said Pooh finally.
"I suppose I am glad that you agree with me."
"Can you be both glad I agree with you, and always sad?"
Eeyore thought this one over very carefully.
"Since I am already sad, being glad about something won't affect my sadness nor would being pleased about something quite different."
"Do you feel a bit happy when you are glad about something, Eeyore?"
"Perhaps."
"Then, you can't *always* be sad, could you?"
Eeyore thought about that one for a very long time.
Pooh grew tired waiting for Eeyore to answer. So he put away his pot of hunny. Then he went to the washroom to wash up. Then he put on his nightclothes and got ready for bed.
"You may stay the night, Eeyore," he said to his dear old friend. "But please
don't wake me to tell me your answer."
Rather than answering, Eeyore just nodded his head.
And Winnie the Pooh went to bed.
Early the next morning, Eeyore was still there thinking by the door.
"Hulloa, Eeyore!"
"Please, Pooh!" exclaimed Eeyore. "I'm still thinking."
"Well, please do hurry up!" insisted Pooh. "Today Christopher Robin is coming
to visit."
So Eeyore thought faster...

and faster...

and faster.

Then he said, "I suppose sometimes I don't feel sad at all."
"That's the spirit!" declared Pooh.
"But since I'm already there, nothing makes me sad."
"Oh bother!" exclaimed Pooh, and swatted Eeeyore on his behind as they headed out the door.

---

Do you wish to free yourself of mental and emotional knots and become one with the Tao? If so, there are two paths available to you.
The first is the path of acceptance. Affirm everyone and everything. Freely extend your goodwill and virtue in every direction, regardless of circumstances. Embrace all things as part of the Harmonious Oneness, and then you will begin to perceive it.
The second path is that of denial. Recognize that everything you see and think is a falsehood, an illusion, a veil over the truth. Peel all the veils away, and you will arrive at the Oneness.
Though these paths are entirely different, they will deliver you to the same place: spontaneous awareness of the Great Oneness. Once you arrive there, remember: it isn't necessary to struggle to maintain unity with it.
All you have to do is participate in it.

- Hua Hu Ching:48(Fugate)

---

2. The Ching of Eeyore: The Missing Tail Points the Way
Eeyore depicts the dark side of life, the raincloud that always rains on everyone's parade. Yet he is a practical fellow. To deal with disappointments in his life, he hasn't just chosen to be sad; he's already there. Thus is it impossible for great disappointments to upset him and leave him in despair. Winnie the Pooh, on the other hand, deals with life's up and downs as best he can but is sad when disappointed and happy when something pleases him. In essence, he flows with the Tao. Eeyore does not.
Yet together, both Eeyore and Pooh Bear represent the eternal dance of Yin and Yang, their interplay complementing each other. Without Eeyore to care for, Pooh would be happy to eat honey all day. But honey doesn't grow on trees.
Once Pooh tried to get honey from a bees' hive. In the end, he did get honey but got stung. He had to work hard to get what he liked best. Another time, Eeyore lost his tail. It didn't affect him much since he couldn't see his tail except in the brook, (but then it was numb). But it caused much concern among his friends. And even though he was loath to admit it, Eeyore was pleased to get his tail back.
Thus is there much to learn from the adventures of Winnie the Pooh. And, even more treasures may be gleaned by observing the Ching of Eeyore.

---

On hearing of the Tao,
the wise student's practice is with diligence;
the average student attends to his practice
when his memory reminds him so to do;
and the foolish student laughs.
But we do well to remember
that with no sudden laughter,
there would be no natural way.
Thus it is said,
"There are times when even brightness seems dim;
when progress seems like regression;
when the easy seems most difficult,
and virtue seems empty, inadequate and frail;
times when purity seems sullied;
when even reality seems unreal,
and when a square seems to have corners;
when even great talent is of no avail,
and the highest note cannot be heard;
when the formed seems formless,
and when the way of nature is out of sight".
Even in such times as these,
the natural way still nourishes,
that all things may be fulfilled.

-Tao Teh Ching:41(Rosenthal)

---

3. The Last Meeting
(In Which Eeyore and Pooh Meet Christopher Robin for The Very Last Time, They Meet His Grand-Daughter and Get a Refitting To Boot)
Both Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh were walking on the road for quite abit when they met an old man sitting down. Upon hearing them approach, the old man smiled.
"Hello, Eeyore! Hello, old Pooh!" he cried. "Nice to see you again!"
"Begging your pardon, sir" said Pooh, not knowing who the old man is, "but who might you be?"
Eeyore tugged on Pooh's arm lightly.
"Please, Eeeyore!" said Pooh. To the old man, he said, "I'm sorry, sir, but my friend here wants a private word with me."
"Heh," chuckled the old man, "like old times, eh? Well, you and Eeyore talk amongst yourselves. I've been waiting a long time for the both of you and my patience grows with my age."
Whispering with Eeyore, Pooh says to him, "Now what do you want? I'm curious as to why this old man thinks he knows us. But I don't recall ever meeting him before."
"Of course you have!" declares Eeyore. "But you may have forgotten. It has been a long, long time."
"Well, I don't remember who he is. Perhaps we should ask."
"I remember him very well," insists Eeyore, "but if you want to ask him instead of me, then go right ahead."
"I'm sorry, Eeyore," said Pooh. "How rude of me! Please tell me who the old man is."
"Best you ask him yourself, old friend," suggested Eeyore. "It has been many, many years since he last came to visit."
"You don't suppose it's Christopher Robin?" asks Pooh. "Why, the last I saw him, he was a young lad of 8 or 9 or 10."
"Excuse me, Winnie the Pooh?" said the old man. "I couldn't help but overhear. When I left you last, I was 9 and a half (or was it 10?). Yes! It is Christopher Robin come to visit for the last time!"
Pooh walked slowly up to hug Christopher Robin. As he reached up, his left arm fell off.
"Oh my! I seem to be coming apart!" he exclaimed.
"That is because you are old, too!" said Christopher Robin. "I have wrinkles and white hair, and you are losing your stitches."
"This is horrible!" wailed Pooh. "What am I to do with one good arm? Can you get your mother to sew me up as good as new?"
"I'm sorry to tell you," replied Christopher Robin, "but my mother died a good many years ago."
"Is the old house gone too?" asked Eeyore. "Pooh lost alot of stuffings when you bumped him up the stairs when you went to bed each night as a boy."
"Yes it is," replied the old man, sadly. "They've torn it down to make way for a superhighway."
"You wouldn't happen to have a wife or a daughter to sew me up?" asked Pooh, whose stuffings were starting to leak out of the hole where his left arm was. "I also seem to have developed a slow leak of stuffing."
"Well, my grand-daughter might sew you up if you ask her nicely," said Christopher Robin.
"Where is she?" asked Pooh. "I think this is a Big Emergency now."
"Here she comes now," said the old man, pointing to a young woman of 20. "Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh, meet my grand-daughter Christina."
"Hello, Christina!" said both Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh as one.
"Why hello!" said Christina. "Pleasant surprise to meet you both. Grandpa has always spoken highly of you two."
"Thanks very much," said Eeyore, trying very hard to smile despite already being sad.
"How do you do?" said Pooh. "Your grandpa mentioned you know how to sew."
"Indeed. But I can tell by looking at you that you will need to be redone. Your covering is old and I don't think a proper mending will do you justice, Pooh Bear."
"What about me?" asked Eeyore. "I think my tail might fall off again."
Christina looked Eeeyore over.
"Hm... You may need a redoing too."
"I suppose we all need a refit," said Eeyore.
"Indeed," said Pooh.
"Indeed," agreed Christopher.
And that was that.
 
Later on, at Christina's sewing room in her apartment across the brook, Pooh stood before the mirror by the corner examining himself.
"You did a good job refitting me, Christina," said Pooh. "And Eeyore, too."
"Thank you," said Christina.
"Will Christopher Robin ever come back to visit us again?" asked Eeyore.
"No, I'm sorry. He passed away when I had taken you both apart at the seams."
"Will you come and visit us at our home one day, Christina?" asked Pooh.
"I'd be glad to," she declared. "And please bring over a few of your friends if they need a refitting."
"We shall do that!"
"Bye bye, dears!" said Christina and hugged both Eeyore and Pooh.
As both Pooh and Eeyore walked back to his home, Eeyore sighed heavily.
"What's wrong, Eeyore?" asked Pooh.
"Nothing. It's funny losing an old friend and us both living on."
"Yes, this is true," agreed Pooh. "Death is such a sad thing."
"So permanent too," added Eeyore. "I'm glad we never die."
"So am I," said Pooh, "but most of all I'm glad that Christina is such a honey!"
"Yes," said Eeyore, "it was sweet of her to mend us."
"Mend us!?" exclaimed Pooh. "She did more than mend us; she made us new."
"Realistic too," agreed Eeyore, wagging his tail. "Remember when my tail was just stuck on with a pin?"
"Indeed I do. I seem to recall that your last tail was found by me."
"It was used as a knocker for Owl's door."
"Well, he won't be able to use this one as a knocker," said Pooh. Then he thought a bit.
"I wonder if the teeth were such a good idea," mused Pooh.

---

In ancient times, people lived holistic lives. They didn't overemphasize the intellect, but integrated mind, body, and spirit in all things. This allowed them to become masters of knowledge rather than victims of concepts. If a new invention appeared, they looked for the troubles it might cause as well as the short-cuts it offered. They valued old ways that had been proven effective, and they valued new ways if they could be proven effective.
If you want to stop being confused, then emulate these ancient folk; join your body, mind, and spirit in all you do. Choose food, clothing, and shelter that accords with nature. Rely on your own body for transportation. Allow your work and your recreation to be one and the same. Do exercise that develops your whole being and not just your body. Listen to music that bridges the three spheres of your being. Choose leaders for their virtue rather than their wealth or power. Serve others and cultivate yourself simultaneously. Understand that true growth comes from meeting and solving the problems of life in a way that is harmonizing to yourself and to others.
If you can follow these simple old ways, you will be continually renewed.

- Hua Hu Ching:43

---

4. Live Simple To Be Renewed
Both Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh live very simple lives. Thus they seem to appeal to each new generation of children. This is also the appeal of cartoon characters in the Sunday Comics as well as in the new comics available in the store. These cartoon characters are just reinventions of old myths, written and drawn in such a way as to be contemporary to their fan. By doing so, the artists and writer try to make the imagination of young people of any age come alive. Yet Winnie the Pooh is in need of repair because all the Christopher Robins have grown up only to die of old age while he and Eeyore live on.
Still, the following generations can reinvent Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore too. They represent the Yin and the Yang, and as familiar archetypes, they guide our dreams, our goals, our way of life. Indeed, Winnie and Eeyore appeal the child within. They keep us young. It would be no embarrassment to reread the stories of Winnie's adventures in the world of our own imaginations. Perhaps when we're older, we'll understand what those adventures really mean.
For it is because of the simpleness of the stories that Winnie the Pooh's adventures appeal to us.

---

The natural way is the way of the sage,
serving as his dwelling,
providing his centre deep within,
whether in his home or journeying.
Even when he travels far,
he is not separate
from his own true nature.
Maintaining awareness of natural beauty,
he still does not forget his purpose.
Although he may dwell in a grand estate,
simplicity remains his guide,

for he is full aware, that losing it,
his roots as well would disappear.
So he is not restless,
lest he loses the natural way.
Similarly, the people's leader
is not flippant in his role, nor restless,
for these could cause the loss
of the roots of leadership.

- Tao-teh-ching:26

---

5. Accepting Change
(In which Piglet visits the new Pooh and ends up getting refitted.)
Now it was a few days later that Piglet came to Pooh Bear's home to visit. He came to the door and saw a sign that read:
Welkum too Pooh's Plays!
Dont noK - Just wok in!
But it was very, very faded and the ink had run. For it had been many, many years since Christopher Robin had written the sign.
Of course, Piglet couldn't read it so he just knocked on Pooh's door.
Knock! Knock!
He would have used the door knocker but that had fallen off many years ago. Besides, Pooh had forgotten Just where he left it.
"Who's there?" asked Pooh from within his home.
"It's me Piglet!" exclaimed Piglet.
And Winnie the Pooh opened the door.
"Who are you?" asked Piglet, for he did not know that Pooh had gone to get refitted.
This bear was different from Pooh. He even had Real Teeth! Piglet was rather startled but had taken bravery lessons from Tigger.
"I'm Winnie, dear Piglet."
"Are you sure you're Winnie the Pooh?" asked Piglet.
"Sure, I'm sure I'm sure!" said Pooh. "Don't you recognize me?"
"No," declared Piglet, "I've never met you before."
"Sure you have," said Pooh, "many times."
"Well, you can't be Pooh," insisted Piglet.
"Why's that?" asked Pooh.
"You have teeth."
"Oh," said Pooh, "indeed I do."
"So you can't be Pooh," insisted Piglet, again.
Winnie the Pooh pondered upon this point for a moment.
"Listen, Piglet," said Pooh, finally, "if I can prove I am Pooh, then will you believe it's me?"
"I might," said Piglet, hesitantly.
"Well, come on in then!" said Pooh.
"Ok, if you promise you won't eat me," said Piglet.
"I won't eat you," said Pooh, "in spite of having teeth. I don't bite."
And so, Piglet entered Winnie the Pooh's home with some reluctance. While inside Pooh's home, he made sure he was quite close to the door, just in case.
"I think," said Pooh, "that I shall start by sharing some hunny with you, Piglet. For you must be really hungry after such a long, long trip all the way from home."
Saying that, Pooh went to his cupboard to get out a pot of hunny. But he could not find a pot, neither here nor there in his cupboard.
"Oh, bother," he said, rather sadly, "I seem to have run out of hunny, again. And with Christopher Robin no longer with us I'm afraid it might be A Very Long Time before we get any. Unless..."
"Unless what?" asked Piglet.
"Unless you come with me to Christina's," replied Pooh.
"Who's that?"
"Why, it's Christopher Robin's grand-daughter, who is Very Sweet (and Such a Honey Too!)"
"Well," said Piglet, "I don't really know. You haven't convinced me that you are Winnie the Pooh."
"Please trust me, Piglet" said Pooh.
"I would," said Piglet, "if you didn't do that."
"Do what?" asked Pooh, scratching his head.
"Smile like that," said Piglet.
"Smile like what?" asked Pooh.
"Smile like that!" exclaimed Piglet. "It shows all your teeth."
"Oh," said Pooh, and kept his mouth shut.
So Pooh and Piglet walked all the way to Christina's apartment on the Other Side of the brook. During this walk, Piglet followed at a safe distance, just in case. Even though he was tired walking all that way, he never said anything.
Finally, outside Christina's door stood Winnie the Pooh and Piglet too.
And Pooh pushed the button that buzzed her apartment.
Buzz! went the button.
Piglet watched from a very safe distance.
"Hello," came Christina's voice from somewhere.
Piglet jumped and was very very frightened. But still he didn't say anything.
"Hello, Christina!" said Pooh. "I've come to pay a visit with a good friend,
Piglet."
"Please come right up!" said Christina from somewhere.
Buzz! went the button again.
And Pooh open the door to the apartment just at that moment.
Quickly both he and Piglet scrambled in.
At Christina's apartment door, Pooh knocked.
"Please do come in!" said Christina from within. "The door is unlocked."
And both Piglet and Pooh entered.
"I'm in my study!" said Christina.
At the doorway to the study, Christina stood over something that looked like a very ferocious beast.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Pooh. "What is that?"
Piglet shrank away from the sight of such a beast. It was not turning out to be his day at all.
"Oh! This is just part of my work," said Christina. "I'm a taxadermist."
"A T-taxi T-termite?" said Piglet. "What's that?"
"A taxidermist stuffs dead animals for a living," explained Christina. "I also gave Pooh his new look."
"Though, according to Piglet, you make me too real," said Pooh, quietly.
"Well, I sort of like your teeth, Edward," said Christina.
"You do?"
"Yes, it gives you character. Besides, I think of you as one of my best works."
"Well, I am flattered," said Pooh.
Christina bent closer to Piglet and examined him closely.
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed.
"What? What?" cried Piglet.
"I'm afraid you need some mending too, Piglet."
"W-will it hurt?"
"It's quite painless, I assure you."
"Quite," agreed Winnie the Pooh. "I've never felt better!"
"W-well, if that's the case, then sure!" said Piglet.
And that's how Piglet was refitted like Eeyore and Pooh.
 
"Are you convinced I'm Pooh?" asked Pooh later as he and Piglet headed home.
"Yes, quite," replied Piglet. "I'm also glad to have met Christopher Robin's grand-daughter."
"Oh yes!" gushed Pooh. "She is a honey!"
"Though," said Piglet, ruefully, "I wonder if these tusks were stretching things a bit."
Pooh stopped to look Piglet over.
Then he said, "Well, as she said, they do give you more character. It's like my teeth. Now I can eat more than just hunny."
"I suppose you are right," agreed Piglet, somewhat reluctantly.
"Well then," said Pooh, "that's settled then."
And they both continued back to home.

---

The above story makes a very good point.
At first, Piglet resisted change. He did not like the new look of Pooh and had to learn to trust him enough to accompany Pooh to Christina's place. But once Piglet saw the new look of himself, he rapidly embraced change.
While this is just a story, in real life we are sometimes afraid of change.
For anyone unused to change, it is such a frightening thing. Yet, like the new Pooh, change does not bite. It does not hurt as much as the pain one does to oneself trying to avoid change at all costs. Sadly though, some of us never learn. Sometimes we tend to avoid change when it could do us the most good until it is too late. Then we end up lamenting it all.
What use is it to resist change then?
All that wasted effort could be better used to usher in change and adapt with it. Then life becomes less of a struggle and more of a joy.

---

Originally created on or before 2007-01-17 04:50

Religion through Asian Eyes

My understanding is that hell is a temporary abode, a Purgatory. It's not a place of "burning in Hell for eternity", despite the notion of the "fire and brimstone" version of Hell.

There is nothing in the Bible to confirm such an event, save by misinterpretation of "fire and brimstone".

Yet brimstone is a euphemism for "cleansing", as is the fire symbology. Everything in the Bible points more to "sins" being "burned away", leaving the soul purified.

Though, Revelations appears to have been written to prevent believers from committing suicide were they to believe in reincarnation. The early church councils ruled against incorporating reincarnation into their doctrine because it was likely not to get believers to stick around long enough to amass property that would be bequeathed to the Church on death.

Even today, in rare situations, unscrupulous religious leaders might pressure new converts to confess their sins so that later, subtle emotional blackmail could be used to keep them in the fold and be willing to pay tithe. Most converts are well aware that they are under no obligation to confess their sins openly, yet may do so before a trusted church leader in order to facilitate spiritual healing.

Why? Because man is a social animal, the risk of "excommunication" motivates most converts to do whatever is necessary to become a part of the congregation. By confessing their sins, converts resolve to "sin no more" and thus be repentant. In doing so, they are healed spiritually and are welcome into the congregation.

In contrast, I like the Chinese way of worship, where a believer has a rich spiritual life by not only paying his respects as a Buddhist for the afterlife, as a Taoist for health, and as a Confucian for family.

When you closely examine Falun Gong, it looks like a smorgasbord of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and qigong. Indeed, you could practice the qigong but not join the protests, and they put no pressure on you with that regard.

However, within the Japanese sensibility about spirituality, there is a generalist flavour to it where a spiritually minded person can be Buddhist and Shintoist, yet have a Christian wedding, and even participate in pagan rituals known as matsuri.

China and Religious Pogroms Against Tibetan Buddhists and Falun Gong

China pretends the Dalai Lama clique exists, to distract the world from close examinations of the cliques in Beijing, which have more substance.

Also, there are more people who aren't in the cliques than there are those in them.

Indeed, there is no Dalai Lama clique. This is an invention by the CPP to fuel their paranoid accusations of the Dalai Lama as charlatan and fraud, and more specifically as a political leader wanting more than autonomy for his people.

In actual fact, the Dalai Lama only wants autonomy (self-rule) for his people, and the good of Marxism rather than the tyranny of the state which has been reified to replace the Three Spiritual Gems of China (Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism).

By doing so, the Chinese trample on Buddhist precepts because they only respect the cult of Mao which powers the State and its myriad cliques.

Their poltical repression of Falun Gong too is due to the cult of Mao.

Why? Because they fear Buddhism and Falun Gong will distract people from reverence for Mao.

Yet Buddhism and Falun Gong both preach service to others, and so are not China's enemies. CPP made them their enemies because reverence to Mao shows respect to the reified State.

Even though the CPP claims Buddhism and Falun Gong are superstitions which must be trampled, the cult of Mao too is a superstition. Reverence for Mao will not make China strong; what makes China strong is people inculcated with the willingness to be of service to the State.

Both Buddhism and Falun Gong preach this, and disproves that members of both religions are a threat to the security of the state.

Thus in trampling on the spiritual goodness of Buddhism and Falun Gong, CPP is showing religious hypocrisy. In claiming Chinese should be atheistic and should replace the "superstition" of Buddhism and Falun Gong with the cult of Mao, CPP only shows how ignorant its clique truly are.

Indeed, neither religion is an enemy of China; China's true enemy is reification of the State.

This is why the cliques ruling Beijing are living in interesting times. Each one claim to be true to Mao's word, yet are each in it for their own gain.

People there still practice Buddhism and Falun Gong without thought of revolt, for both religions encourage their devotees to be of service to others.

Thus the powers that be in Beijing have more to fear from their cliques than from the people. Their pogroms again Falun Gong and Tibetan Buddhists are merely distractions to confuse the world and China's people.

Yet not all people in China listen to the state on this matter. Only the people who believe in the state are afraid of Buddhism and Falun Gong. Everyone else carries on as they were, being of service to China.

No one cares if one lights joss sticks, studies Lao Tse or follows the Analects. All they care about is to help China be prosperous and strong.

Yet all China is doing by trampling on Buddhism and Falun Gong is make the State look stupid.

Therefore China should stop reifying the state, and instead accept the help of its own people, not distinguishing between Buddhist or Confucist or Taoist or Falun Gong or Maoist.

For even Mao demands that of its leadership.

The Tao of Pu

Pu

Pu is translated as "uncarved block" or "simplicity". It is a metaphor for the state of wu wei and the principle of jian. It represents a passive state of receptiveness. Pu is a symbol for a state of pure potential and perception without prejudice. In this state, Taoists believe everything is seen as it is, without preconceptions or illusion.

Pu is seen as keeping oneself in the primordial state of tao. It is believed to be the true nature of the mind, unburdened by knowledge or experiences. In the state of pu, there is no right or wrong, beautiful or ugly. There is only pure experience, or awareness, free from learned labels and definitions. It is this state of being that is the goal of following wu wei.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism#Pu

Another term for pu is "the raw experience before one's mind reacts."

For it is the mind's reaction to experience which corrupts the mind, not the experience itself.

Therefore the practice of no-mind (by enjoying raw experience) begins by learning NOT to react with the mind but to act with the heart, out of love.

Dongfang Shuo: A Witty Man

While entertaining himself in Shanglin Garden, Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty pointed at a tree and asked Dongfang Shuo, 'What is that called?'

'It's called Goodness.' replied Dongfang Shuo carelessly. Wu Di had it written down.
Several years later, playing in the garden again, Wu Di saw the tree and turned to Dongfang Shuo to ask its name. 'it's named Jusuo (Overlooking all).' said Dongfang Shuo again carelessly.

Wu Di's expression changed, 'You have been cheating me over the years. How can the same tree have different names?'

Dongfang Shuo defended himself with fervor and assurance 'A horse is called horse only when it grows up; it is a foal when young; chicken is the name for a chick when it becomes older; and a cow is called a calf when born. So it is with human beings: They are called infants when born and old men when aged. The tree was Goodness several years ago and is now Overlooking-All. All the objects in the universe change. Don't you think that is the truth?'

Satisfied with Dongfang Shuo's reply, Wu Di laughed heartily.

Importantly this quote shows that each object may have different names.

In addition to his real name, a person may have a nickname. On the Internet, a person may opt to use a pseudonym to protect his anonymity.

In Buddhism, Buddha Nature is also known as Self Nature, and Buddha Recitation is called Buddha Remembrance.

As for Taoism, the Tao is also known as the Way.

Taoism and Buddhism

Creation of the Gods: A Somewhat Less Than Critical Commentary: "Chapter 83. Subjugation of Lion, Elephant, and Jaguar
Candi revealed Fairy Black Cloud as a turtle. Heavenly Master of Outstanding Culture revealed Fairy Dragon Head as a Lion. Universal Virtue revealed Fairy Spiritual Teeth as an elephant. Merciful Navigation revealed Fairy Golden Light as a jaguar. Not long thereafter, Heavenly Master of Outstanding Culture became the Bodhisattva of Outstanding Culture, Universal Virtue became the Bodhisattva of Universal Virtue, and Merciful Navigation became Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. Buddha revealed Mother Spiritual Tortoise as a tortoise. A swarm of mosquitos arrived and sucked her blood out. The Grand Master of Heaven surrounded himself with 28 Taoist Fairies who were destined to become Gods of the 28 constellations."